The Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, has revised the Dr. Ambedkar Medical Aid Scheme for 2026, providing enhanced medical assistance to eligible Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) patients suffering from serious and life-threatening ailments.
Under the revised guidelines, SC/ST applicants with an annual family income of not more than ₹5 lakh are eligible to apply for assistance for major ailments requiring surgery or specialised treatment. The scheme covers kidney, heart, liver, cancer and brain-related conditions, organ transplantation, spinal surgery and other life-threatening diseases.
The maximum financial assistance prescribed under the scheme includes ₹3.50 lakh for kidney surgery/dialysis and kidney or organ transplantation, ₹2.50 lakh for cancer surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, ₹2 lakh for brain surgery and other life-threatening diseases, and ₹1.50 lakh each for heart and spinal surgery.
The scheme provides 100 percent of the estimated cost of surgery, subject to the prescribed maximum ceiling, with the approved amount released directly to the concerned hospital.
Beneficiaries covered under PM-JAY may also be eligible for assistance towards kidney or organ transplantation, subject to the conditions prescribed under the revised guidelines, as kidney transplantation is not covered under PM-JAY.
Applicants must belong to the SC or ST community, have an annual family income of not more than ₹5 lakh, require treatment covered under the scheme and seek treatment at an eligible or approved hospital.
The revised list of eligible institutions includes AIIMS, New Delhi and AIIMS in other States, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute, Lucknow; Patna Medical College Hospital, Patna; Jabalpur Hospital and Research Centre, Jabalpur; B. Barua Cancer Institute, Guwahati; Birla Heart Foundation, Kolkata; Kalinga Hospital Ltd., Bhubaneswar; Tata Cancer Research Institute, Mumbai; Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad; The Voluntary Health Services, Chennai; besides other listed major medical institutions, CGHS-approved hospitals, State Government medical colleges and hospitals, State Government-recognised hospitals and other hospitals approved under the scheme, subject to applicable conditions.
For applying under the scheme, applicants are required to submit the prescribed application form (available in DAF website) or apply on plain paper in the prescribed format along with the original estimated cost certificate duly signed by the Medical Superintendent of the concerned hospital, including the date fixed for surgery; self-attested copies of the latest income certificate and caste certificate; self-attested ration card/Aadhaar card of the patient; and a self-attested photograph of the patient. Additional documents relating to the relationship and donor details are required in cases of kidney transplantation.
Applications should reach the Director, Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, 15 Janpath, New Delhi–110001, at least 15 days before the scheduled date of surgery, dialysis or chemotherapy.
The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Chumoukedima, has forwarded information on the revised scheme to the concerned administrative authorities and requested wide publicity so that eligible beneficiaries are made aware of the assistance available.
Eligible SC/ST patients suffering from serious ailments are encouraged to verify their eligibility and submit their applications within the stipulated timeframe to avail assistance under the revised scheme.
(Limatoshi, IA Chumuokedima)